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Sunday, May 20, 2012 

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Major Areas of Responsibility

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You are here: Home Page > Departments > Zoning & Codes > Major Areas of Responsibility

This page contains information on major areas of responsibility for the Zoning and Codes Department of Douglas County, Kansas.

Zoning is the classification of land into districts for the purpose of regulating the use of the land such as placement of buildings, size of buildings, and activities associated with property.

Zoning is the primary means of ensuring that nearby lands are compatible. Douglas County is divided into thirteen (13) separate Zoning Districts.

Building codes are a minimum set of standards to safeguard life and limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all buildings except agricultural buildings.

Comprised within the Zoning and Codes Department are the following major areas of responsibilities:

1. Review all construction documents for building code compliance (blueprints and specifications).
2. Issue building permits
3. Inspect all buildings, except agricultural, throughout the construction process.
A. Inspect the Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing and Building systems of all regulated buildings.
B. Issue verbal and written correction notification.

4. Receive both written and verbal Zoning complaints.
A. Investigate and documents the nature of all complaints.
B. Issue both oral and written notification of Zoning Violation.
C. File complaints with District Attorney's Office.

5. Determination of flood boundaries, floodplain, flood fringe, Special Flood Hazard District, 500-year flood plain and minimum buildable elevations.
6. Administrate Federal Emergency Management Association regulations for insurance purposes.
7. Maintain monthly census reports pertaining to number of permits, valuation of buildings, etc.
8. Effectively maintain and enforce all related departments and utility guidelines.
A. Douglas County Health Department
B. Douglas County Public Works
C. Kansas Power & Light Company
D. Kansas City Power & Light Company
E. Kaw Valley Electric
F. Kansas Public Service
G. United Cities Gas Company
H. Greeley Gas Company

9. Assist and answer all land use questions by the general public, and realtors.
10. Assists the public and realtors in preliminary platting information, lot splits and determine the necessity for platting and site planning.
11. Maintain and enforce Douglas County Development Standards as modified by Home Rule Resolutions.
12. Review all site plans and subdivisions filed in the Lawrence/Douglas County Planning Office.
13. Establishing public notification, public hearing, recording and documenting all rendered judgments for the following:
A. Douglas County Board of Zoning Appeals
B. Douglas County Board of Building Code Appeals

14. Issuance of Firework Permits
15. Issuance of Temporary Permits
16. Issuance of Conditional Use Permits
17. Issuance of certificates of Occupancy
18. Inspect residential structures of occupancy and stability before and after repair during disaster mitigation
19. Approve or disapprove alternative building component materials based on the following:
A. Research Reports
B. UL Listing
C. National Evaluation Service

20. Research and document land transactions that affect building permit issuance. (i.e. the 5-Acres exemption).